7:42 PM,
Jul. 19, 2013

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After many weeks of talking to the Detroit Tigers beat reporters about his plans and trepidations regarding the All-Star Game, Jim Leyland could enjoy chatting with them today about how well it had all turned out.

"I thought it was a terrific All-Star Game, maybe one of the best of all time because of the Mariano Rivera situation and how it scripted out," he said.

Leyland, the AL manager, knew that the Yankees' Rivera, the best closer ever, had to pitch in his final All-Star Game before he retires after this season. Leyland decided to have him pitch the eighth because he wanted him to come in to start ...